RESUMEN
Cuidado paliativo é uma forma de abordagem que visa a melhoria da qualidade de vida de pacientes e seus familiares que enfrentam doenças ameaçadoras à vida, através da prevenção, da identificação e do tratamento precoces dos sintomas de sofrimento físico, psíquico, espiritual e social. Todo paciente criticamente enfermo deve receber cuidados paliativos desde a internação, o que torna de primordial importância a educação e o treinamento dos intensivistas para a implantação destes cuidados nas unidades de terapia intensiva, tanto para atendimento de adultos como pediátrico. Em continuidade aos planos da Câmara Técnica de Terminalidade e Cuidados Paliativos da Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira e, levando em consideração o conceito previamente apontado, foi realizado em outubro de 2010, durante o Congresso Brasileiro de Terapia Intensiva, o IIºForum do "Grupo de Estudos do Fim da Vida do Cone Sul", com o objetivo de elaborar recomendações pertinentes aos cuidados paliativos a serem prestados aos pacientes críticamente enfermos.
Palliative care is aimed to improve the quality of life of both patients and their family members during the course of life-threatening diseases through the prevention, early identification and treatment of the symptoms of physical, psychological, spiritual and social suffering. Palliative care should be provided to every critically ill patient; this requirement renders the training of intensive care practitioners and education initiatives fundamental. Continuing the Technical Council on End of Life and Palliative Care of the Brazilian Association of Intensive Medicine activities and considering previously established concepts, the II Forum of the End of Life Study Group of the Southern Cone of America was conducted in October 2010. The forum aimed to develop palliative care recommendations for critically ill patients.
RESUMEN
Palliative care is aimed to improve the quality of life of both patients and their family members during the course of life-threatening diseases through the prevention, early identification and treatment of the symptoms of physical, psychological, spiritual and social suffering. Palliative care should be provided to every critically ill patient; this requirement renders the training of intensive care practitioners and education initiatives fundamental. Continuing the Technical Council on End of Life and Palliative Care of the Brazilian Association of Intensive Medicine activities and considering previously established concepts, the II Forum of the End of Life Study Group of the Southern Cone of America was conducted in October 2010. The forum aimed to develop palliative care recommendations for critically ill patients.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the modes of death and treatment offered in the last 24 h of life to patients dying in 10 Brazilian intensive care units (ICUs) over a period of 2 years. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, multicentre, retrospective study based on medical chart review. The medical records of all patients that died in seven paediatric and three adult ICUs belonging to university and tertiary hospitals over a period of 2 years were included. Deaths in the first 24 h of admission to the ICU and brain death were excluded. INTERVENTION: Two intensive care fellows of each ICU were trained in fulfilling a standard protocol (kappa=0.9) to record demographic data and all medical management provided in the last 48 h of life. The Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi(2) test and RR were used for data comparison. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 1053 medical charts were included (59.4% adult patients). Life support limitation was more frequent in the adult group (86% vs 43.5%; p<0.001). A 'do not resuscitate' order was the most common life support limitation in both groups (75% and 66%), whereas withholding/withdrawing were more frequent in the paediatric group (33.9% vs 24.9%; p=0.02). The life support limitation was rarely reported in the medical chart in both groups (52.6% and 33.7%) with scarce family involvement in the decision making process (23.0% vs 8.7%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Life support limitation decision making in Brazilian ICUs is predominantly centred on the medical perspective with scarce participation of the family, and consequently several non-coherent medical interventions are observed in patients with life support limitation.
Asunto(s)
Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Cuidados para Prolongación de la Vida/métodos , Cuidado Terminal/métodos , Adulto , Anciano , Brasil , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Toma de Decisiones , Femenino , Hospitales Universitarios , Humanos , Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico , Tiempo de Internación , Cuidados para Prolongación de la Vida/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Privación de Tratamiento/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
As condutas de limitação de tratamento oferecidas a pacientes portadores de doenças terminais, internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva, tem aumentado a sua freqüência nos últimos anos em todo o mundo. Apesar disto, ainda existe uma grande dificuldade dos intensivistas brasileiros em oferecer o melhor tratamento àqueles pacientes que não se beneficiariam com terapêuticas curativas. O objetivo deste comentário é apresentar uma sugestão de fluxograma para atendimento de pacientes com doenças terminais que foi elaborado, baseado na literatura e experiência de experts, pelos membros do comitê de ética e de terminalidade da AMIB.
Withholding of treatment in patients with terminal disease is increasingly common in intensive care units, throughout the world. Notwithstanding, Brazilian intensivists still have a great difficulty to offer the best treatment to patients that have not benefited from curative care. The objective of this comment is to suggest an algorithm for the care of terminally ill patients. It was formulated based upon literature and the experience of experts, by members of the ethics committee and end-of-life of AMIB - Brazilian Association of Intensive Care.
RESUMEN
Withholding of treatment in patients with terminal disease is increasingly common in intensive care units, throughout the world. Notwithstanding, Brazilian intensivists still have a great difficulty to offer the best treatment to patients that have not benefited from curative care. The objective of this comment is to suggest an algorithm for the care of terminally ill patients. It was formulated based upon literature and the experience of experts, by members of the ethics committee and end-of-life of AMIB - Brazilian Association of Intensive Care.
RESUMEN
O objetivo da presente revisão foi avaliar o estado atual do conhecimento sobre doença terminal e cuidados paliativos em unidade de terapia intensiva. Identificar as questões-chave e sugerir uma agenda de pesquisa sobre essas questões. A Associação Brasileira de Medicina Intensiva organizou um fórum especifico para o debate de doenças terminais na unidade de terapia intensiva, onde participaram profissionais experientes em medicina intensiva. Esses profissionais foram subdivididos em 3 subgrupos, que discutiram: comunicação em unidade de terapia intensiva, decisões diante de um doente terminal e cuidados/ações paliativas na unidade de terapia intensiva. As informações e referências bibliográficas foram copiladas e trabalhadas através de um site de acesso restrito. Os trabalhos ocorreram em 12 horas quando foram realizadas discussões sistematizadas seguindo o método Delphi modificado. Foram elaboradas definições sobre a terminalidade. A adequada comunicação foi considerada de primordial importância para a condução do tratamento de um paciente terminal. Foram descritas barreiras de comunicação que devem ser evitadas sendo definidas técnicas para a boa comunicação. Foram também definidos os critérios para cuidados e ações paliativas nas unidades de terapia intensiva, sendo considerada fundamental a aceitação da morte, como um evento natural, e o respeito à autonomia e não maleficência do paciente. Considerou-se aconselhável a suspensão de medicamentos fúteis, que prolonguem o morrer e a adequação dos tratamentos não fúteis privilegiando o controle da dor e dos sintomas para o alívio do sofrimento dos pacientes com doença terminal. Para a prestação de cuidados paliativos a pacientes críticos e seus familiares, devem ser seguidos princípios e metas que visem o respeito às necessidades e anseios individuais. Os profissionais da unidade de terapia intensiva envolvidos com o tratamento desses pacientes são submetidos a grande estresse e tensão...
The objective of this review was to evaluate current knowledge regarding terminal illness and palliative care in the intensive care unit, to identify the major challenges involved and propose a research agenda on these issues The Brazilian Critical Care Association organized a specific forum on terminally ill patients, to which were invited experienced and skilled professionals on critical care. These professionals were divided in three groups: communication in the intensive care unit, the decision making process when faced with a terminally ill patient and palliative actions and care in the intensive care unit. Data and bibliographic references were stored in a restricted website. During a twelve hour meeting and following a modified Delphi methodology, the groups prepared the final document. Consensual definition regarding terminality was reached. Good communication was considered the cornerstone to define the best treatment for a terminally ill patient. Accordingly some communication barriers were described that should be avoided as well as some approaches that should be pursued. Criteria for palliative care and palliative action in the intensive care unit were defined. Acceptance of death as a natural event as well as respect for the patient's autonomy and the nonmaleficence principles were stressed. A recommendation was made to withdraw the futile treatment that prolongs the dying process and to elected analgesia and measures that alleviate suffering in terminally ill patients. To deliver palliative care to terminally ill patients and their relatives some principles and guides should be followed, respecting individual necessities and beliefs. The intensive care unit staff involved with the treatment of terminally ill patients is subject to stress and tension. Availability of a continuous education program on palliative care is desirable.
Asunto(s)
Cuidados Críticos , Cuidados para Prolongación de la Vida , Cuidados Paliativos , Enfermo TerminalRESUMEN
The objective of this review was to evaluate current knowledge regarding terminal illness and palliative care in the intensive care unit, to identify the major challenges involved and propose a research agenda on these issues The Brazilian Critical Care Association organized a specific forum on terminally ill patients, to which were invited experienced and skilled professionals on critical care. These professionals were divided in three groups: communication in the intensive care unit, the decision making process when faced with a terminally ill patient and palliative actions and care in the intensive care unit. Data and bibliographic references were stored in a restricted website. During a twelve hour meeting and following a modified Delphi methodology, the groups prepared the final document. Consensual definition regarding terminality was reached. Good communication was considered the cornerstone to define the best treatment for a terminally ill patient. Accordingly some communication barriers were described that should be avoided as well as some approaches that should be pursued. Criteria for palliative care and palliative action in the intensive care unit were defined. Acceptance of death as a natural event as well as respect for the patient's autonomy and the nonmaleficence principles were stressed. A recommendation was made to withdraw the futile treatment that prolongs the dying process and to elected analgesia and measures that alleviate suffering in terminally ill patients. To deliver palliative care to terminally ill patients and their relatives some principles and guides should be followed, respecting individual necessities and beliefs. The intensive care unit staff involved with the treatment of terminally ill patients is subject to stress and tension. Availability of a continuous education program on palliative care is desirable.
